2h sword on magicka build (frost mage)?

mjharper

So I was messing around with gear on my Nord frost warden, and swapping out an ice staff for a 2h sword led to a surprising damage increase, at least on the tool tips. With just one Animal Companion skill slotted, Ice Comet went from 16959 damage with a frost staff, to 18023 damage with a 2h sword.

I'm assuming that this has something to do with ice staffs not offering a damage increase (unlike inferno and lightning staffs), and the raw damage of 2h weapons combined with the Heavy Weapons passive (which seems to increase damage done (not just weapon damage?) by 6%. That being said, I think the damage was about the same difference before I took the passive...)

Am I missing something here? Or are ice staffs really so poor that your skills do more damage with a 2h sword?

And what might be the disadvantages? I know it isn't going to do as much damage with light/heavy attacks, because 2h weapons scale off stamina, but I think I can deal with that by having a destruction or restoration staff equipped on the back bar. And heavy attacks will return stamina, which, again, same solution.

I've heard some sorcs use 2h weapons to have access to Critical Charge, which I agree absolutely rocks and pairs very nicely with Iceheart...

Thoughts welcome

laksikus

2h swords have a higher base stat than any staff. (2hander: 1571, staff: 1335)
And then an additional passive that gives 6% more damage compared to ice staffs.

Your 2hsword tooltip will always be higher than any tooltip on any staff, even on fire staff (which gives 8% more damage, so 2% more than 2hsword

Everstorm

Ultimates scale to which ever is the highest of your weapon- and spelldamage.

Beardimus

Mag2H & MagDW were a big thing because of the extra damage, but with the nerfs over the years they made it less and less viable. With LA weave damage, extra range enchant etc etc it became harder and harder to justify it.

Emmagoldman

Frost dmg also has the potential to apply minor maim, which can be useful in a group and can be paired with corrupted pollen to apply major maim